World Cup, South Africa 2010 – Facing up to Responsibilities
The World Cup is a major event for South Africa. Appropriately enough, it is being celebrated as an international vote of confidence not only in the country, but also the continent. While stories of despair often dominate news from Africa, many of...
15 June 2010 | Commentary
Commentary by Steve Ouma
Checking in on Corporate Human Rights Reporting
At the Global Reporting Initiative’s (GRI) biennial conference last week, one of the sessions was dedicated to “the Future of Human Rights Reporting”. The panelists, drawn from diverse sectors, covered a wide range of issues.
These included the...
31 May 2010 | Commentary
Commentary by Elizabeth Umlas, Independent researcher and consultant
Further Steps Taken to Operationalise the Protect Respect and Remedy Framework
On 9 April the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General on human rights and business, John Ruggie (the SRSG), issued his 2010 Progress Report [24 pages, 146kb] (the Report) on the operationalisation of the “protect, respect and remedy”...
25 May 2010 | Commentary
Commentary by Peter Muchlinski
Towards Responsible Corporate Behaviour in Conflict Zones
With the globalization of economic activities, in certain areas of poor governance, power has effectively shifted from State to corporations. In these permissive environments, corporations have the potential of getting involved in the commission of...
19 May 2010 | Commentary
Commentary by Heloise Dumont, Associate Legal Officer, International Criminal Court
Next UK Government Must Show Leadership on Human Rights
The outcome of this week’s election in the UK (6 May 2010) looks as if it will be close. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the links between human rights and business are not prominent in the manifestos of any of the main parties. But corporate responsibility...
04 May 2010 | Commentary
Commentary by John Morrison, Chief Executive, IHRB
Putting the Protect, Respect, Remedy Framework into Practice
Last week, the latest report under my mandate as Special Representative of the U.N. Secretary General on business and human rights was released in advance of the June session of the U.N. Human Rights Council. This is my last interim report before I...
29 April 2010 | Commentary
Commentary by John Ruggie, Patron Emeritus, IHRB; Author, UN Guiding Principles on Business & Human Rights
How the Global Compact Can Better Address Human Rights
This commentary was originally published in EthicalCorporation.
John Ruggie, has released his latest report taking forward the "Protect, Respect, Remedy" policy framework for business and human rights.
In June, the Human Rights Council will...
27 April 2010 | Commentary
Commentary by Mary Robinson, Chair, The Elders; Patron, IHRB
Vulnerable Workers, Vulnerable Brands - Migrants in the Supply Chain
“All our employers are interested in is our work. When there’s no work, they kick us out. We want to be treated like human beings, not like animals.”
Abdelilah, a 28 year old Moroccan, works in the Spanish agricultural town of El Ejido, on the...
10 April 2010 | Commentary
Commentary by Stephen Rylance, Communications Director, Ethical Trading Initiative
Relax the Grip - A Role for Mediation in Business and Human Rights Disputes
Have you ever tried to climb a palm tree? I did once. Try, that is. Here’s the thing about it. You look up that tall, straight trunk to the coconuts that hang under the palm fronds – your tantalizing objective. And so you launch yourself upwards....
ISO 26000 - A New Standard for Human Rights?
ISO 26000 will be a standard for social responsibility produced by the International Standards Organisation (ISO). In the last few weeks a vote was taken by the national standards bodies that compose ISO’s membership. It was closely fought - but...
23 March 2010 | Commentary
Commentary by Adrian Henriques, Chair of the UK Committee on ISO 26000
Have the Voluntary Principles Realised Their Full Potential?
Extractive industries have little choice but to operate where they find resources. As a result, they may find themselves in conflict zones, facing human rights abuses taking place in their area of operations. Many have argued that since these abuses...
17 March 2010 | Commentary
Commentary by Salil Tripathi, Senior Advisor, Global Issues, IHRB
Page 35 of 37 pages.
Responsibilities Beyond Borders
Efforts to stop the biggest environmental disaster in US history continue in the Gulf of Mexico with few signs of progress. The explosion on an oil rig in April which was operating one of the Gulf’s deepest oil wells killed eleven workers. The flow...
30 June 2010 | Commentary
Commentary by Salil Tripathi, Senior Advisor, Global Issues, IHRB